Sailing activists return to Cyprus with Palestinian patients

Sat Aug 30 10:00:00 EST 2008

Activists who sailed to the Gaza Strip in two fishing boats in symbolic defiance of an Israeli blockade have arrived back in Cyprus with seven residents of the besieged territory on board, among them a teenager who needs an artificial leg.

"I am very happy to be in Cyprus. I feel overwhelmed and overjoyed," said Saed Mosleh 16, who lost his leg to an Israeli tank shell, as he was lifted from one of the boats in a wheelchair.

The teenager is hopeful of getting medical treatment in Cyprus that will enable him to lead a better life.

"I want an artificial leg so I can walk again like other kids," he said.

The wooden fishing boats "Free Gaza" and "SS Liberty", completed the 370 kilometre voyage with 39 activists on board and two Palestinian families.

They set sail from the southern Cyprus port of Larnaca a week ago and landed in Gaza last Saturday, leaving again on Thursday for the return voyage.

Saed Mosleh lost his left leg after an Israeli tank shell exploded 20 metres from him while he was helping his father water trees in northern Gaza.

Due to a lack of immediate expert medical care his leg became infected with gangrene and was eventually amputated from the hip while he lay in a coma for three months, his father Khaled Mosleh said.

The only artificial legs available to him in Gaza fit below the knee.

"I'm extremely grateful to Cyprus for receiving us and to those who helped my son get out," he said.

Businessman Aiman Soboh was among a small group of well-wishers at Larnaca dock as the boats sailed into port in the late evening.

"I haven't seen my sister for 10 years I can't wait to hug her, we are going to celebrate," Mr Soboh, 47, told AFP.

His sister, Maha Darwish, and her four sons, aged between 4 and 18 are planning to stay on the island with their relatives.

There were tears of joy and relief when the siblings were finally united at the quayside.

The activists delivered 200 hearing aids to Gaza, but said the main aim of the symbolic blockade-busting action was to publicise the plight of the 1.5 million people trapped in the impoverished territory.

On their journey to Gaza the activists had expected to be stopped by the Israelis who had warned them to stay out of the territory's coastal waters but eventually decided to allow them through in order to avoid a public standoff.

The US-based Free Gaza Movement conceded that the landmark crossing could not have been achieved without the help of Israel.

"It's a spectacular achievement. Israel said they would throw us in jail or prevent us from going to Gaza but they didn't, they acted responsibly," said organiser Paul Larudee.

Israel has sealed off the tiny coastal territory to all but very limited humanitarian supplies after Hamas, an Islamist movement it blacklists as a terror group, violently seized power in Gaza after routing forces loyal to US-backed Palestinian president Mahmoud Abbas.

Israeli authorities say the sanctions aim at putting pressure on Palestinian militants who fired rockets at southern Israel almost daily before a truce took effect on June 19.

The "Free Gaza" group said it would soon return to the Palestinian territory and urged the United Nations, the Arab League and the international community to organise "similar human rights and humanitarian efforts."

"This has opened the door to humanitarian assistance of this kind and everything that goes with it," said Mr Larudee.